Takeda China Launches Innovation Challenge, Inviting Startups to Co-Create Digital Health Solutions
May 26, 2021 18:06
CST Updated
18:06
Takeda
Biopharmaceutical Manufacturer
May 26, 2021, Shanghai, China —— Takeda China today announced the official launch of the Fiscal Year 2021 Innovation Challenge (hereinafter referred to as the Challenge). This marks the first nationwide competition targeting startups focused on cutting-edge medical innovation since the launch of TakedaSpark, Takeda’s proprietary open innovation incubator. Participating companies will collaborate with Takeda’s internal teams to co-create patient-centric digital healthcare solutions and innovative business models, injecting innovative momentum into shaping the future landscape of healthcare.
Qian Tingzhi, Founding Partner of Jingxu Capital; Yang Ruirong, Partner of Yuanyi Capital; Dr. Chen Yiwei, Founder of the Rare Disease Science Popularization Public Welfare Platform "Pea Sir"; Dai Shenyi, Associate Professor at Zhejiang University and Independent PI at the Zhejiang University Computer Innovation Research Institute; Bi Yuanfeng, Co-founder of Danhuang Technology; and other guests attended and witnessed the launch ceremony of the competition.
[Group Photo of Guests]
Integrate High-Efficiency Multi-Party Resources to Empower Leading Startups
Takeda invites all startups equipped with medical technology innovation capabilities and resources to register and participate, jointly exploring innovative solutions that leverage technology to enhance patient experiences and unlock the limitless potential of digital healthcare. Ultimately, 6 to 8 participating teams will be selected to conduct Proof of Concept (PoC) collaborations with Takeda. These teams will receive comprehensive support, including incubation funding, end-to-end guidance from professional mentors, and media exposure, to accelerate the implementation and commercialization of innovative concepts and products from both parties.
Shan Guohong, President of Takeda China, announced over a dozen challenge projects across three key incubation directions at the launch event, primarily focusing on: screening initiatives oriented toward biotechnology, image recognition, and the gamification of patient education and health science popularization.DiagnosisSolutions, including pharmaceutical and digital health products focused on chronic disease management, rehabilitation, and hardware-software integrated mobile devices, as well as those oriented toward social listening, interaction design, and academic empowerment.Big DataAnalytical capabilities and infrastructure, covering Takeda's key therapeutic areas such as lung cancer, lymphoma, inflammatory bowel disease, hemophilia, and rare diseases.
“The challenge is expected to accelerate the pace at which patients in China benefit from digital healthcare innovations,” said Shan Guohong, President of Takeda China. “Takeda China looks forward to collaborating with more outstanding startups to integrate Takeda’s technical expertise and global R&D capabilities with the growing innovative capacity of domestic enterprises. Guided by patients’ most pressing needs, we will explore innovation opportunities in emerging technologies, continuously deepen the impact of digital solutions in the healthcare sector, and deliver greater well-being to patients in China and worldwide.”
[Remarks by Shan Guohong, President of Takeda China]
Rooted in China, Leading Digital Healthcare Innovation
Leveraging its competitive advantages across multiple dimensions—including the scale of its talent pool, financing channels, the internet industry, and business environment—China is emerging as a focal market for global digital health innovation. Against this backdrop, at this press conference, Qian Tingzhi, Yang Ruirong, Chen Yiwei, Dai Shenyi, Bi Yuanfeng, and senior executives from Takeda China engaged in a discussion on the topic of "The Current State and Future of China's Digital Innovation Amid a Shifting Global Innovation Landscape."
Yang Ruirong, Partner at Yuan Yi Capital, pointed out: “The capital market holds exceptionally high expectations for the future of digital healthcare and is willing to pay a premium for it. In particular, the transformations driven by digital healthcare—such as enhanced efficiency, precise patient outreach, and optimized payment models—are accelerating the advent of the ‘patient-centric’ era and exerting a profound impact on the transformation of the healthcare landscape.”
Dr. Chen Yiwei, founder of the rare disease science popularization and public welfare platform "Wandou Sir," also shared at the conference the urgent pain points and directions for innovation in the rare disease field: "Riding the policy tailwinds from recent government initiatives supporting the innovative R&D and introduction of rare disease drugs, I am delighted to see Takeda leveraging its accumulated strengths and experience in the rare disease sector, collaborating with the industry with an open approach, and focusing on 'the survival rights of this minority patient population.' I sincerely hope that TakedaSpark will incubate innovative solutions that deeply integrate digital technologies with rare disease diagnosis and treatment pathways and rehabilitation journeys, thereby empowering physicians and serving patients through more profound models."
[RoundtableMeeting[Site]
In addition, guests from both sides engaged in discussions on the experiences and future directions of domestic and international medical innovation, as well as the innovative prospects for rare diseases in China, envisioning a future where digitalization empowers the pharmaceutical industry. In fact, accelerating the digital transformation process has consistently remained one of the core priorities for Takeda China’s development. In the realm of digital therapeutics, Takeda China launched myPKFiT in 2020, a management tool approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) to support pharmacokinetics (PK)-guided management for Hemophilia A.®; In building a digital healthcare ecosystem, Takeda once again partnered with leading internet healthcare platforms in 2020 to establish the "Takeda China Internet Healthcare Strategic Alliance," aiming to provide high-quality medical services and medication access for more patients in China.
At the roundtable, both parties reached a consensus on the breakthrough directions for China’s future digital pharmaceutical innovation and the application prospects of digital therapeutics. They acknowledged that China holds the potential to lead innovation and achieve leapfrog development in the digital space, positioning it to serve as a benchmark for digital healthcare innovation in other countries. Leveraging the robust open innovation incubator Takeda Spark, Takeda China will collaborate with more outstanding innovative enterprises to more actively listen to and respond to the preferences, needs, and value expectations of individual patients. By exploring high value-added innovative healthcare solutions and scalable implementation scenarios, Takeda will further propel the pioneering of a new era in China’s digital healthcare landscape.
Appendix:
Registration for this edition of the TakedaSpark Innovation Challenge is open from May 26 to June 18, 2021, and will proceed through four competitive stages:
Phase 1:Online Registration (Before June 18):All startups interested in this challenge are welcome to register (the company must be an entity duly established and validly existing under the laws of China);
Phase II:Initial Screening and Communication (May 30 - June 20):The Takeda China Selection Committee evaluates the alignment between company profiles and Takeda's requirements, and selects 12 partners to advance to the finals.
Phase 3:Closed-Door Evaluation and Internal Roadshow (June 21):Organize finalist startups to participate in a closed-door offline roadshow, from which 6–8 companies will be selected by the Takeda China Selection Committee to receive final pilot and incubation support;
Phase IV:Pilot and Incubation (After June 21):Selected projects will be jointly piloted and incubated, and will receive comprehensive support, including incubation funding and professional mentorship resources provided by Takeda.
For more details about the competition or to register, please scan the QR code below.
(Mini Program QR Code)
# About Takeda
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Tokyo Stock Exchange Ticker: 4502) (New York Stock Exchange Ticker: TAK) is a global, values-driven, R&D-focused biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Japan. Takeda is committed to translating scientific discoveries into highly innovative medicines to help patients lead healthier lives and secure a brighter future. Takeda focuses its research and development on four therapeutic areas:Tumor, gastroenterology, neuroscience, and rare diseases, with dedicated R&D investments in plasma-derived therapies and vaccines. We remain steadfastly focused on the research and development of highly innovative medicines. By pioneering novel therapeutic approaches and strengthening our collaborative R&D engine, we build a robust and diverse pipeline to help improve people's lives. With employees across approximately 80 countries and regions, we partner with local healthcare organizations to deliver health benefits to patients worldwide.
Takeda entered China in 1994. Headquartered in Shanghai, Takeda China's main business centers in mainland China are located in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and other cities and regions. The company has established offices in major cities across China and currently employs over 2,000 staff members in the country. With China's economic development and the growing demand for healthcare, China has become one of Takeda's most important emerging markets globally.
For more information, please visit https://www.takeda.com
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